has been but little studied in our colleges, partly on account of the want of good editions. We hope Professor Woolsey will supply this deficiency, and introduce the other works of Plato to the American public. They are especially worthy of attention at the present time. Plato has reappeared among the Germans, and, through them, to some extent among us. His philosophy contains the germ of Transcendentalism, which is undeniably becoming a prevalent and influential system in certain quarters. The enthusiasm with which it is beginning to be received by many ardent youth of our country, may be early explained by reference to the "spiritual" and 66 elevating" tone which "Critical Idealism" is made to assume, and the flattering dignity and "divinity" with which it professes to clothe the attributes of the human mind. Those who would intelligently oppose a system fraught with such alluring error, should be able to trace it to Platonism, its strong-hold and original source.

Of all the classics, Plato is now the centre of attraction with the higher order of scholars in Europe. The writings of no ancient author, probably, are exerting so wide and manifold an influence. Victor Cousin, who long made Plato his study, has recently translated his works into the French, with an introduction to each dialogue. A volume containing his life, and a complete exposition of his system, is promised from the same distinguished author. Schleiermacher, to whom the new ardor for the study of Plato is mainly owing, translated him into the German. Ast has since edited a superior edition with a new translation. Tenneman produced a masterly work on his life* and system of philosophy. But to mention the writers on Plato, would be only to enumerate some of the most distinguished scholars of Germany. His works are extensively read in the German, and familiarly studied in the original. Lectures are given in the universities upon his life and writings, especially by the learned Augustus Boeckh of Berlin, whose course appears to attract particular attention.

We only allude to a few facts of this sort, which are enough to suggest the contrast between us and the Germans, in regard to the study and appreciation of Plato, and to show the want of such an American edition as Professor Woolsey has commenced. We repeat our wish that he will go on in the work so happily begun. We should be especially pleased to see an edition of Phaedo from his hand.

* Tenneman's Life of Plato has been translated by Professor Edwards.

Plato deserves the attention of the scholar for the excellence of his moral sentiments, the purity and elevation of his principles. His argument for the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, which forms the noble conclusion of the Gorgias, and is fully developed in the Phaedo, is a monument of the highest reach of ancient philosophy on that subject. He advocates the belief in future rewards and punishments, which are urged with great force, as motives to right conduct. His views of the remedial efficacy of punishment, probably suggested the doctrine of purgatory to some of the Christian Fathers. Indeed, Platonism sustains an important relation to the early history of Christianity. Many of the Christian Fathers belonged to the school of Neo-Platonists, and engrafted the principles of their favorite system upon the doctrines of the New Religion. But it would require a distinct essay, to exhibit the claims of Plato upon the attention of the American scholar, and we will only add the testimony of Robert Hall, who, in the most active period of his ministry, devoted several hours in a day, for a number of years, to the study of the classics, and used to refer to Plato in terms of most fervid eulogy, and express his astonishment at the prevailing neglect of the writings of that philosopher.

2.-Posthumous Sermons. By the Rev. Henry Blunt, A. M., late Rector of Streatham; and formerly Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge. First American Edition. Philadelphia: Herman Hooker. 1844. pp. 190, 12mo.

Mr. Blunt, before his death, had instructed and delighted many a heart by his lectures on the Pentateuch, Lives, and Sermons, which were reprinted and widely circulated in this country; and we now have before us a beautiful posthumous memorial of the man.

We select a passage from the sermon on the text, "Go forward." "You, also, established Christians, have a duty to perform, and we say to you, 'Go forward,' gratefully, cheerfully, joyfully. Prove to those around you that religion is not the dull, and stagnant, and cheerless service which the worldling thinks it. Demonstrate that, while all your motives, and all your aims, and all your hopes are higher, infinitely higher, than his can ever be, your comforts, also, and your peace, your cheerfulness, and your resignation, and your happiness, are all of them equally above and superior to any which he can dream of. That as you advance in years, that period when the hope of the hypocrite fails, when the temper

of the mere worldling becomes too often irritable and querulous, your enjoyments are but heightening, your prospects becoming less clouded and more serene; that the glorious anticipation before you is throwing many a beam of light into nature's darkest hour and over her most wintry day; and that you are able, humbly yet confidently, seriously yet cheerfully, to go forward from strength to strength, assured that there is one, who, when your heart and your flesh fail, will be (because he has promised to be) 'the strength of your heart and your portion for ever.""

After reading this, it will be apparent that the editor is not

far wrong when he says, "These sermons are distinguished for their rich but simple eloquence, the brilliant but chastened imagination which pervades them, combined with a plain perspicuity of language that commends them to persons of all ranks and of all ages."

3.-Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles.

By the late John

Dick, D. D., Professor of Theology of the United Secession
Church, Glasgow, Author of "Lectures on Theology," etc.
First American from the second Glasgow edition. New-
York: Robert Carter. Pittsburg: Thomas Carter. 1844.
pp. 407, 8vo.

We have been exceedingly interested in reading these Lectures. The passages selected as the ground of the remarks, are, in themselves, striking, most of them having respect to the Apostle Paul; the structure of the sentences is chaste and graceful; the topics treated are such as to secure attention and profit; and, indeed, the Lectures, may serve as good models for this kind of preaching, which, by the way, we think one of the very best for the edification of the people.

Among other subjects, we have here-The Day of Pentecost-Ananias and Sapphira-The Institution of DeaconsThe Martyrdom of Stephen-The Conversion of Paul-Herod and Peter-The Council of Jerusalem-Paul in Lystra, in Thessalonica, and Berea, in Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Jerusalem; before the Council, before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, etc. Passages of great beauty might be selected from many of these Lectures, but we rather refer our readers to the volume itself, not doubting that they will be richly repaid in the perusal, for the cost of the book, and the expenditure of time necessary.

4.-The Christian Doctrines. By Rev. Hubbard Winslow, of Boston, author of Young Man's Aid,” "Woman as she should be," etc. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. 1844. pp. 360, 12mo.

Mr. Winslow is known as a good writer, and his previously published works have exerted a very wholesome influence. "Woman as she should be" ought to be in the hands of every woman who can read it understandingly; and the "Young Man's Aid" might save many a one from the assaults of the tempter, and guide him to the foot of the cross.

The present volume is well digested, lucidly written, and adapted, as designed, to do good. We must not forget now, in the demand for attention to the modes and forms of the church, that, after all, her doctrines are much the weightier matters. Unless the church be well indoctrinated, we shall suffer a multitude of evils: the enemy will come unawares and sow tares with an unsparing hand. We have, for a few years past, been reaping what we sowed-the unwholesome fruits of inattention to indoctrination of church members. We agree with the author, that the great cause of the evils which we suffer in our Zion and our country, is the want of that intelligent, deep-toned, experimental piety, which results from early and intimate communion with the Christian doctrines. Let the minds of our children be brought under the power of these doctrines, and all our dearest interests will be ultimately saved let them fail of this, and all will be ultimately lost."

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We take pleasure in recommending the work, as a clear and satisfactory exhibition of the Christian doctrines. 5.-The Prelatical Doctrine of the Apostolical Succession examined; with a Delineation of the High-Church System. By H. A. Boardman, Pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: William S. Martien. NewYork: Robert Carter. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. 1844. pp. 348, 18mo.

The day has certainly arrived, when it has become necessary for those who maintain the parity of the clergy and the validity of the ordinances administered by others than those whose heads have been touched by the hands of a prelatical bishop, to stand up in defence of their rights and of the truth. We, Presbyterians, have been so very charitable and unsectarian, that we have yielded almost every thing to harmony among the different branches of Zion; but, meanwhile, other sects have been taking advantage of our indifference to our own denominational interests, and have been building them

selves up at our expense. We have sacrificed all: they, nothing. It ought not so to be. We rest on a basis of truth, and that we should strengthen.

The providence of God has, at length, aroused us from our slumbers, and bid us valiantly defend the citadel. Hence many are burnishing their weapons and preparing to meet the assaults of the enemy. The claims of the Episcopacy have become so intolerably arrogant in certain quarters, her assumptions and professions so high, that to permit them to pass unnoticed, were rather to desert the faith than to exercise the charity of the Gospel.

Mr. Boardman has, doubtless, so thought, and therefore felt it incumbent on him to prepare this manual. The work is written in a good spirit, and in a chaste style. It presents the Presbyterian, and, we think, the Scriptural view of the ministry and ordinances, and upsets the vain pretensions to apostolical succession and peculiar sanctity. Among others, the following topics are treated: The Argument from ScriptureThe Historical Argument-The True Succession-The Church put in Christ's place-Intolerance of the System-Its Schismatical Tendency.

6.-A Biblcal Dictionary; being a comprehensive Digest of the History and Antiquities of the Jews and neighboring Nations; the Natural History, Geography, and Literature of the Sacred Writings: with Pronouncing and Chronological Appendices. By Rev. J. A. Bastow. Bradford: B. Walker. London: W. Strange. 1844.

We are indebted to the politeness of the editor for the first three parts of this Dictionary, reaching from A to Egy. The work evinces learning and research, and will be found to be, when completed, we presume, one of the very best of Biblical Dictionaries. Frequent use has been made of the Biblical Repository, in the preparation of many of the articles. Under Baptism, we notice, that the author has acknowledged his indebtedness to our articles from the pen of Dr. E. Beecher, and has condensed and rearranged the argument of those articles. It is intended to make the work a Digest of the literature of the Bible. It will illustrate thousands of difficult passages in Scripture, will furnish a complete index of those passages, and will contain a general introduction and a list of the authors referred to, together with their works. Thus will it offer a convenient hand-book to the Bible.

We like the plan, on the whole, and are pleased with the execution thus far.